THE BRISBANE Lions will unveil three debutants against Hawthorn on Saturday, and although coach Justin Leppitsch admits they may be overawed, he says they're ready to go.
Midfield draftees James Aish and Lewis Taylor, along with second-year key forward Michael Close, will play their first game for the club against the Hawks in Launceston.
All have won over Leppitsch with outstanding pre-seasons, and the rookie coach says his youthful team is symbolic of where the Lions’ list is at.
"They probably will be overawed," Leppitsch said at Brisbane airport on Friday morning as the team prepared to fly out to face last year’s premiers.
"Whether it's Hawthorn, or whether it's Melbourne, GWS, Gold Coast, it doesn’t really matter who your first game's against, if you're ready to go, you're ready to go.
"We see a future for all those boys. They've got to rise to the challenge.
"Sometimes it's going to be hard for them this year, other times they'll do it well, but that's what happens in your first 15 to 20 games of AFL footy."
Former Geelong ruckman Trent West will also don the Lions colours for the first time in a team that looks vastly different from the one demolished by Hawthorn in the NAB Challenge five weeks ago.
While Aish and Close have impressed in each pre-season match, Taylor has bolted into the team after being held back with a foot injury for much of the pre-season.
"Lewey's trained really well. He's basically pushed the door down," Leppitsch said.
"He's an unbelievable trainer and played really well last week in our reserves. He's been a great addition. I think the fans are going to love it when they see him play."
Leppitsch said he had no nerves ahead of his first game in charge, and even found time to make light of former captain Jonathan Brown, who has had a disrupted pre-season with ongoing problems with his foot.
"I'm hoping he'll play out the whole game. If not I'll just sub him and get rid of him," Leppitsch joked.
"How would he like to wear the red vest? I don’t think he'd like that, would he?"
Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting https://twitter.com/AFL_mikewhiting
